Category Archives: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Parsha: Bo – The Ember of Abraham

The Jewish nation was in the dumps. They had spent hundreds of years in Egypt, and the possibility of ever leaving and reconstituting as an independent nation, the dream of Abraham, was long abandoned. But something dramatic happened. The Almighty unleashes Ten Plagues on Egypt and with the Death of the Firstborn, the Egyptians usher the nation out. Freedom was achieved at last. How did the Jews get it? In what merit did the nation deserve to be redeemed? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we unveil a new approach to understanding the enslavement, the Exodus, and what it means to be a descendent of Abraham.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by me in honor of my wife, Chaya, whose birthday is today. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family we wish her a happy and hearty birthday, and many happy returns.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Ethics: Life, Afterlife, and Judgment (4:29)

What happens after we die? That is a question that fascinates and terrifies us. The future is unknown. It is a mystery, shrouded in uncertainty and dread. Naturally, the human tendency is to try to avoid thinking about those questions too much. In this Mishnah, the subject is ripped open and we learn some very valuable and penetrating insights that can forever shape our live.

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This Ethics Podcast is sponsored by my anonymous friend from LA in loving memory and leilui Nishmat his cousin, Behzad Emanuel ben Moshiach. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Parsha: Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education

The Jewish people undergo a stunning transformation in our Parsha: It begins with the nation walling in misery; when Moshe offers a plan for salvation, they cannot even hear his comforting message. Yet very quickly they merit a miraculous Exodus, and only fifty days later they experience national prophecy at Sinai. How did this happen? How did the nation learn the lessons and absorb the teachings needed to become the nation of God? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we lay out a framework for understanding the importance and significance of the Ten Plagues.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by my dear friend Jeff Yarus in honor of his wife Beth on the occasion of her birthday

On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, we wish her a hearty happy birthday and wish her many happy returns

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

TORAH 101: What is Kabbalah?

Kabbalah, the hidden, mystical parts of the Torah, is arguably the most misunderstood area of Torah. It is a subject rife with misconceptions and misinterpretations; it is also a subject that is bursting with charlatans seeking to take advantage of the gullible masses. In this sweeping episode, we try to understand what, exactly, Kabbalah is, what is its role in Torah, what are the rules and prerequisites to study Kabbalah, and we talk about its quite interesting history. This episode is a must listen if you want an understanding of what Kabbalah is.

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This TORAH 101 podcast is dedicated in honor of a dear friend of mine and of TORCH from Dallas, TX, who wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you so much for your support and friendship!

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Parsha: Shemos – Grooming Greatness

Moses is the greatest leader of our history and the archetype of a great, transformative leader. Why was he chosen for the role? What was his training to become the leader he became? What are the Torah’s guidelines for leaders and people of influence. In this podcast we examine the Torah’s retelling of the protracted dialogue between God and Moses. Moses is resisting accepting the mantle of leadership. He objects for a bevy of different reasons before he ultimately accedes to accepting the role. Each objection posed by Moses and each rebuttal offered by the Almighty contain the keys to becoming a great leader.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by my friend Krzysztof Grudzień in honor of his wife Malina on the occasion of our recent marriage.

On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family we wish them a hearty congratulations on their marriage and wish them a life of happiness and great health and harmony and prosperity together!

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Top 10 Episodes of 2020: #1: Age of the Universe: Can Torah and Science be Reconciled?

As 2020 comes to a close, I decided to curate 10 of my favorite episodes from this past calendar year and revisit them on the podcast. If you have already listened to it over the course of the year, it will give you a chance to enjoy it again, and if you missed it the first round, now is a great time to catch up on these ten episodes. This ranking will be exclusively featured on this podcast channel, All Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcasts; it will not be on the individual feeds. Please email me if you agree or disagree with my ranking. I am sure that you already know my email address 🙂

This episode was originally featured on This Jewish Life Podcast on 02/19/2020

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According to Jewish tradition, 2020 is the year 5780. Science estimates the age of the universe to be somewhere between 13.8-15.4 billion years. In this podcast, we will share a brilliant reconciliation sourced from centuries-old Kabbalistic books.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Top 10 Episodes of 2020: #2: A Grandson Remembers: Reflections, Stories, and Lessons of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe

As 2020 comes to a close, I decided to curate 10 of my favorite episodes from this past calendar year and revisit them on the podcast. If you have already listened to it over the course of the year, it will give you a chance to enjoy it again, and if you missed it the first round, now is a great time to catch up on these ten episodes. This ranking will be exclusively featured on this podcast channel, All Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcasts; it will not be on the individual feeds. Please email me if you agree or disagree with my ranking. I am sure that you already know my email address 🙂

This episode was originally featured on This Jewish Life Podcast on 03/03/2020

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My grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, was one of the 20th Century’s most important rabbis. But unlike many of his contemporaries, he had a very unusual path to becoming the transformative Torah Sage that he became. In this very special and personal podcast episode, I share several never-before-told stories about his life and I speculate several different theories to explain how he became such a great person. This is a unique podcast episode – stories, anecdotes, and lessons that can prove to be life-changing.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

 

Parsha: Vayechi – The Five Stages of Transformation

The Book of Genesis is replete with interesting stories. We follow the narrative about Adam and Noah and their families, Abraham and his odyssey and trials, Isaac and his family’s challenges and triumphs, and of course Jacob and Joseph and their stories capture our imagination and curiosity. “Torah” means instruction. As part of the Torah, Genesis must be instructive. Where are the instructions of Genesis? Stories are great, but what are the lessons? In the final Parsha Podcast of 2020 we suggest several answers to this important question.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by Eli and Temima Lebowicz in loving memory of Eli’s mother Nancy Lebowicz, Chana Rochel bas Azriel Zelig, whose yartzeit falls out this week. May her soul be elevated in Heaven

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Top 10 Episodes of 2020: #3: An Invitation to The Afterlife

As 2020 comes to a close, I decided to curate 10 of my favorite episodes from this past calendar year and revisit them on the podcast. If you have already listened to it over the course of the year, it will give you a chance to enjoy it again, and if you missed it the first round, now is a great time to catch up on these ten episodes. This ranking will be exclusively featured on this podcast channel, All Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcasts; it will not be on the individual feeds. Please email me if you agree or disagree with my ranking. I am sure that you already know my email address 🙂

This episode was originally featured on The Ethics Podcast on 08/04/2020

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We all recognize that we will eventually die. Each of us know that there will come a point in time where our body and Soul separate and go their own way. The body will return to its origin, the dust, and the Soul will return to its Heavenly roots. What happens to our Soul in Heaven is certainly a tantalizing question. In this Mishnah we learn about Olam Haba, the Next world, commonly called the Afterlife. What is the Afterlife? Why is it worth preparing for? What can I do to ensure that I am included in the invite-list for this eternal bliss? In this very critical podcast we attempt to penetrate the great mystery of Olam Haba.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101

Top 10 Episodes of 2020: #4: 11 Dimensions of Exile

As 2020 comes to a close, I decided to curate 10 of my favorite episodes from this past calendar year and revisit them on the podcast. If you have already listened to it over the course of the year, it will give you a chance to enjoy it again, and if you missed it the first round, now is a great time to catch up on these ten episodes. This ranking will be exclusively featured on this podcast channel, All Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcasts; it will not be on the individual feeds. Please email me if you agree or disagree with my ranking. I am sure that you already know my email address 🙂

This episode was originally featured on The Parsha Podcast on 01/29/2020

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After centuries of subjugation and servitude, our nation was redeemed from Egypt and taken out by God on the wings of eagles. How long, exactly, were we in Egypt? That is actually quite a tricky question to answer. In this parsha we read how the Egyptian enslavement lasted for 430 years but in Genesis, God promises Abraham that the enslavement will only last 400 years. To make matters more confounding, Rashi gives us three different durations of the enslavement: 210, 193, and 117 years respectively. How long were we there and what is the lesson of all these contradicting figures?

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

The Mitzvah Podcast 

This Jewish Life

The Ethics Podcast

TORAH 101